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Regulation of nitrogenase levels in Anabaena sp. ATCC 33047 and other filamentous cyanobacteria

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Abstract

Incubation in the dark of photoautotrophically grown N2-fixing heterocystous cyanobacteria leads to a loss of nitrogenase activity. Original levels of nitrogenase activity are rapidly regained upon re-illumination of the filaments, in a process dependent on de novo protein synthesis. Ammonia, acting indirectly through some of its metabolic derivatives, inhibits the light-promoted development of nitrogenase activity in filaments of Anabaena sp. ATCC 33047 and several other cyanobacteria containing mature heterocysts. The ammonia-mediated control system is also operative in N2-fixing filaments in the absence of any added source of combined nitrogen, with the ammonia resulting from N2-fixation already partially inhibiting full expression of nitrogenase. High nitrogenase levels, about two-fold higher than those in normal N2-fixing Anabaena sp. ATCC 33047, are found in cell suspensions which have been treated with the glutamine synthetase inhibitor l-methionine-d,l-sulfoximine or subjected to nitrogen starvation. Filaments treated in either way are insensitive to the ammonia-promoted inhibition of nitrogenase development, although this insensitivity is only transitory for the nitrogen-starved filaments, which become ammonia-sensitive once they regain their normal nitrogen status.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

EDTA:

ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

MSX:

l-methionine-d,l-sulfoximine

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  1. Juan L. Ramos

    Present address: Departement de Biochimie Médicale, Centre Médical Universitaire, 1211, Genève 4, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Biología y C.S.I.C., Apartado 1095, E-41080, Sevilla, Spain

    Juan L. Ramos, Francisco Madueño & Miguel G. Guerrero

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  1. Juan L. Ramos
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  2. Francisco Madueño
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  3. Miguel G. Guerrero
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Ramos, J.L., Madueño, F. & Guerrero, M.G. Regulation of nitrogenase levels in Anabaena sp. ATCC 33047 and other filamentous cyanobacteria. Arch. Microbiol. 141, 105–111 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00423268

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00423268

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